The University of Nairobi Faculty of Law has added another landmark achievement to its distinguished record after emerging as the overall winner of the 2026 John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition on WTO Law, the world's premier moot court competition in international trade law.

The championship was won by Ian Kamau Irungu, Isaac Kimeu Kioko and Libby Njoki Maina during the Global Rounds held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 to 27 June 2026. The competition, co-hosted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and organised by the European Law Students' Association (ELSA), brought together the world's most outstanding law schools to simulate proceedings under the WTO dispute settlement system.

The 2026 edition attracted 77 university teams from 35 WTO members. Following rigorous regional rounds across Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, only 24 teams representing 13 WTO members advanced to the Global Rounds in Geneva.

The University of Nairobi had already demonstrated its strength by winning the African Regional Rounds in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Building on that success, the team progressed through the quarter-finals and semi-finals before defeating the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, in the Grand Final to claim the global title.

The team's success extended beyond the championship trophy. Ian Kamau Irungu was named Best Orator of the Quarter-final Rounds, while Isaac Kimeu Kioko received the Best Orator of the Semi-final Rounds award, highlighting the exceptional advocacy skills that distinguished the University throughout the competition.

The Grand Final was presided over by a distinguished panel of international trade law experts chaired by Professor Jennifer Hillman of Georgetown University Law Center, alongside academics and practitioners from the WTO Secretariat, the World Trade Institute and leading international law firms.

This historic victory reflects the Faculty of Law's long-standing commitment to academic excellence, rigorous advocacy training and experiential legal education. It also reinforces the University of Nairobi's position as a leading institution for legal scholarship in Africa and a respected competitor on the global stage.

The Faculty congratulates Ian Kamau Irungu, Isaac Kimeu Kioko and Libby Njoki Maina for this remarkable achievement. Their success is a proud moment for the University, the legal profession and Kenya, and stands as an inspiration to the next generation of advocates and legal scholars.